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After nearly three decades as a priest in the Anglican church, Kevin Dixon decided to answer a new calling, combating human trafficking.

Dixon, the former dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, accepted a position as vice-­president of operations for the Canadian office of the International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-profit dedicated to helping local authorities rescue human trafficking victims, bring their perpetrators to justice and support survivors.

Since hanging up his clerical collar two years ago, the 55-year-old Londoner has been overseeing casework operations in communities in the developing world. Although the nature of the work can be horrific — IJM operates in countries where slave labour and the sexual exploitation of children are prevalent — the rewards are worth it, Dixon said.

“Despite the darkness we kick against, and the depravity that requires IJM’s existence, there’s joy in hearing about children rescued, perpetrators convicted, and justice systems strengthened,” he said. “All those years of parish ministry taught me that even if I can’t do everything, I can still do something.”

Established in 1997, the IJM has 17 field offices throughout Africa, Latin America and Asia. The organization also has partnership offices in a handful of developed countries like Canada. The bulk of its 19 local employees work at an undisclosed location in London. The IJM doesn’t publicize the addresses of any of its offices due to the nature of its work.

Policy director Tim Gehring said the partnership offices focus on fundraising, government liaison and raising the international profile of human trafficking.

Asked about his favourite part of his job, Dixon recalls a thank-you card from a 14-year-old Bolivian girl, who was sexually abused and received support from the IJM.

“There’s nothing better than knowing I’ve contributed, even in some small way, to the rebuilding of broken lives . . . I’m contributing to doing more good than I ever thought possible,” he said.

The biggest misconception about human trafficking, Dixon said, is that it’s a problem too big to stop.

“I want more people to lift their eyes from their own problems and see that together we can do far more good than we think is possible individually.”

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Dale Carruthers is one of 20 ­international journalists ­taking part in the Foreign Press ­Centre’s Combating ­Trafficking in ­Persons trip. The group is travelling to Washington, D.C., ­Houston, Texas, and Los Angeles for the two-week program, ­sponsored by the U.S. government.